“And I had no notion that you were coming to it. So you don’t follow me here?”
“No, I came to see Colonel Eastworth.”
“It appears to me that there are a great many people coming to see Colonel Eastworth. I don’t know anybody that sees so many people, except it is that old door-keeper at the White House! But you won’t see Colonel Eastworth this morning. He is generally in, holding a levee in his rooms all day long; but this morning the queerest-looking fellow that ever I saw came after him and carried him away.”
“What sort of a looking fellow, Elfie?”
“A great, tall, broad-shouldered man, with little, tiny head. They got in a carriage together. I heard him tell the coachman to drive to Benning’s Bridge. Now, that is four miles from this, and, if they are going any distance over that bridge, they won’t be back till evening.”
“Humph! humph! humph!” muttered Albert, reflectively.
“However, as this house is certainly Liberty Hall, you can stop and wait for him,” suggested Elfie.
“I am not altogether sorry to miss him, just now that I have met you, dear Elfie. My business with him can wait till evening. And I wish so much to talk with you, Elfie. Oh, I am so glad to see you! It is such an unexpected pleasure. Are you glad to see me, love?”
“I had a little rather see you than not, perhaps.”
“No more than that?”